Intro: In our passage today from Revelation, the Woman represents God’s faithful people—Israel—who are waiting for Messiah; the crown of twelve stars represents the twelve tribes of Israel. The Child is Jesus Messiah—Satan, according to the gospels, certainly tried to use Herod to kill the world’s Savior (Mat 2:16-18). The Dragon is Satan and his horns and crowns represent his power over the kingdoms of the world that allow him to rule. The stars that plunged to the ground represent the rebellious angels who fell with Satan. The desert represents a protected place from Satan.
I cannot imagine how the apostle John was able to emotionally handle all the things he saw when the Lord allowed him a vision of heaven; he had to have been covered by the grace of God. John sees the conflict between good and evil; between God and Satan. John also sees the source of all sin, evil, and the wickedness of Satan. As well, John witnesses the persecution and suffering of people who await God’s deliverance; to be taken away from the temptation and effects of evil against God’s people. Michael, the high-ranking archangel of God, has an assignment to guard believers. Satan and his angelic demons used free will to rebel against God (2 Peter 2:4). Keep in mind every living creature has free will to either choose or reject God.
With Christ’s death on the cross and his resurrection, Satan—the accuser—was defeated. You do not need to fight with Satan; you do need to resist him which is very different. We cannot serve two masters, so like the holy angels we will always need to choose to stand with Christ. Satan comes against God’s children because of their faith in Christ as Savior. We must call upon the Lord to fight our battles as we stand strong by faith in God’s promises. The Holy Spirit brings us the power to submit ourselves to God; then, we resist the devil and he will leave us (James 4:7). The key to gaining victory over evil is drawing near to God, because when we do so God draws near to us. Satan, a fallen angel, is not God’s equal; God is the all-powerful Creator, so as we draw near to God he surrounds us with his love and protective care.
Revelation 12:1-12 (NLT) The Woman and the Dragon
1 Then I witnessed in heaven an event of great significance. I saw a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon beneath her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head. 2 She was pregnant, and she cried out because of her labor pains and the agony of giving birth.
3 Then I witnessed in heaven another significant event. I saw a large red dragon with seven heads and ten horns, with seven crowns on his heads. 4 His tail swept away one-third of the stars in the sky, and he threw them to the earth. He stood in front of the woman as she was about to give birth, ready to devour her baby as soon as it was born.
5 She gave birth to a son who was to rule all nations with an iron rod. And her child was snatched away from the dragon and was caught up to God and to his throne. 6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where God had prepared a place to care for her for 1,260 days.
7 Then there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels. 8 And the dragon lost the battle, and he and his angels were forced out of heaven. 9 This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels.
10 Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens,
“It has come at last—
salvation and power
and the Kingdom of our God,
and the authority of his Christ.
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters
has been thrown down to earth—
the one who accuses them
before our God day and night.
11
And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb
and by their testimony.
And they did not love their lives so much
that they were afraid to die.
12
Therefore, rejoice, O heavens!
And you who live in the heavens, rejoice!
But terror will come on the earth and the sea,
for the devil has come down to you in great anger,
knowing that he has little time.”
Prayer: Father, thank you for your Word, because so many things in it point to my need to stay focused on you as Savior and Master. Holy Spirit, please continue to give me the power to resist anything that you say is unrighteous; help me to be inclined toward holiness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.